Spokane Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Production of Child Pornography

Spokane – On July 20, 2023, U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Dannie Paul Bowling, 42, of Spokane, Washington, to 216 months in federal prison for Production of Child Pornography.  Bowling pleaded guilty on January 18, 2023.  Judge Rice ordered Bowling to pay $6,000 in victim-related special assessments and be federally supervised for life after Bowling is released from prison. 

According to court documents and proceedings, Bowling was on supervised release in a drug trafficking case when he exploited a 15-year old child by secretly filming her in various stages of undressing. Bowling also paid for nude photographs of minor victim, and used her to produce a video of her engaging in sex acts with Bowling.  Bowling told the minor victim that he could sell her images to other people and paid her varying amounts between $80 and $1,000. At times he even had the minor victim hold a sign with the buyer’s name to prove she was real.  Hidden surveillance camera footage and images and videos of the minor victim were found on Bowling’s phone, which law enforcement searched pursuant to a federal search warrant.  At sentencing, and not withstanding the evidence to the contrary, Bowling denied selling the minor’s images and videos.

After today’s sentencing, United States Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref stated, “Mr. Bowling’s criminal behavior is a stark reminder to parents and communities everywhere to be vigilant in protecting our children.” U.S. Attorney Waldref continued, “I’m grateful for the task forces and seamless law enforcement partnerships  in the Eastern District of Washington.  These partnerships are absolutely necessary to protect the most vulnerable among us and keep our communities safe and strong.”

“This significant sentence should serve as a warning to those who would harm the children of our communities.” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest.  “HSI and our partners are dedicated to the protection of those who cannot protect themselves and will ensure those that perpetrate these heinous acts are brought to justice.”

This case was pursued as part of Project Safe Childhood and investigated by the Missing and Exploited Children Task Force (MECTF).

Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the United States Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. The Project Safe Childhood Initiative (“PSC”) has five major components:

• Integrated federal, state, and local efforts to investigate and prosecute child exploitation cases, and to identify and rescue children;
• Participation of PSC partners in coordinated national initiatives;
• Increased federal enforcement in child pornography and enticement cases;
• Training of federal, state, and local law enforcement agents; and
• Community awareness and educational programs.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

The MECTF is dedicated to protecting the children of Washington State by assisting and investigating missing child and exploitation cases. Washington State Patrol (WSP) MECTF partnered with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Spokane on a Task Force housed at the HSI Spokane office.  The Task Force includes Special Agents, Detectives, and Analysts from WSP, HSI, Spokane PD, and representatives from outlying Counties dedicated to serving the children and communities of the region. The MECTF traces its origins to 1999, when the Washington Legislature established a task force on missing and exploited children under the direction of the Chief of the state patrol, RCW 13.60.110.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from U.S. Probation.  This case was prosecuted by Ann T. Wick, Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.  

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